One week ago, she’d been sunbathing on a beach in Tulum when Beckett barged in and turned her world upside down. Well, some of that was Mya’s doing. But during a week’s time, they’d been chased through the jungle by the cartel, drugged by a crazy billionaire, and had witnessed the death of Beckett’s ex, who left behind a five-year-old son that Beckett was adopting. Time was weird like that.
“I know,” she admitted. “Your dad called while I was cooking dinner to let me know he broke up with her.”
“Did you know Dad wants to work things out with you instead?”
Sydney turned off the faucet and did her best to calm herself at Seth’s attempt to place their son in the middle of his insanity. Why in the hell would he tell Levi that? Why offer him any type of hope at such a reconciliation?
But before Sydney could reject the notion, Levi added, “I told him Hell would have to freeze over before you’d take him back. You know, something Grandpa likes to say when he’s handing out a firm no to his clients.”
Sydney reached for her son’s arm and pulled him in for a hug. She was so grateful for him. For his understanding and maturity.
When she let go of Levi, she wiped a few tears from her cheeks. He gave her a puzzled look because he knew damn well those tears weren’t on account of Seth. “What’s up, Mom?”
She went over to their French country kitchen table and dropped down on the cushioned bench. Where to begin?
He sat next to her and sniffed the air. “And are you wearing your cherry perfume again?”
“I dug it out of the trash when I got home this morning. Alice isn’t worth not wearing my favorite scent.”
“Good for you.” He smiled, showing his pearly whites. Naturally straight teeth that wouldn’t require braces. “But what else is going on? Did something happen on your work trip? Bad? Good?”
Sydney thought back to the whirlwind of a week she’d had. “Bad guys were handled. Good guys won.”
“Ha. Well, I figured as much with you being involved. But . . .?” He tipped his head, brushing his longish strands away from his eyes while waiting for her to share the part of the story she was still withholding.
She shifted on the seat to better face him. “Do you remember the sheriff at Savanna and Griffin’s wedding in April? Beckett Hawkins?”
“The one you were checking out?”
“What?” She fake-gasped and dramatically slapped a hand to her chest. “Was I?”
Levi sent her a shy smile along with a nod. “Oh yeah, I noticed.”
“Well then, I didn’t realize I’m such an open book.”
“Only to me. Well, and to Aunt Mya.”
And now with Beckett.
“Oh, and quick subject change, but is Mya going to work with you?”
She thought back to the tug-of-war between Mya and the two men in Mexico. “She’s going to help out from time to time when she can.” And maybe pick a team, or a man, eventually.
“Cool.” Levi waggled his eyebrows. “But back to the sheriff.”
“Your Aunt Mya is rubbing off on you,” she said with a laugh. “But um, well, Beckett and I worked together on my last case. Had a chance to get to know each other better.”
“And you like him?” Levi’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in forever.”
“Really?”
Levi reached for her hand and squeezed. “I want you happy, Mom. You know that.”
“He lives in Alabama.”
“And we live in modern times,” he reminded her. “You can find a way to make it work if you really want to.” He winked, reminding her of his biological father, Matt. He let go of her hand and checked his watch. “Lucy’s dad is picking me up for the movie tonight in five minutes. Still okay if I go? I mean, if you want me to stay, I can.”
“No, no. Go. Be a kid. Enjoy life.” They stood, and she pulled him in for another hug.
Levi left the house a few minutes later, and Sydney went to her bedroom and dialed Matt’s number, waiting for the voicemail to connect.
“Hey, it’s me,” she began, sitting on her bed. “I wanted to tell you I met someone. And well, I think you’d like him . . .”
THIRTEEN DAYS LATER
“This place is kind of loud for chatting over cocktails,” Sydney had to practically shout over the band performing at the bar. “Open mic night and all.”
Mya lifted the umbrella from her drink and set it on the bar. “It has its charm, though, don’t you think?”
Sydney swiveled on her stool to scan the place. “I guess so,” she said, looking at the variety of license plates nailed to the walls as decoration.
Returning her attention to her old-fashioned, she took a sip, and thoughts of Beckett sprang to mind. Not because anything about this evening reminded her of Beckett, but because the man was on her mind constantly.
It was now June, and it’d been two weeks since she’d called him from Mexico. They’d exchanged a few texts here and there. But only quick check-ins. Nothing too serious.
He’d flown Miles and McKenna to New Mexico last weekend so they could attend Cora’s and Ivy’s funerals, and that’d been rough on all of them. She wanted to give him as much space as possible to process the changes in his life. To not push. But God, she was ready to see him again.
“So, you’re not taking any new jobs with Falcon until August, right? You’re still taking part of the summer off to be with Levi?” Why did this feel like small talk from Mya? She already knew the answers, and she wasn’t forgetful.
Sydney set her drink down and peered at her best friend, curious what her endgame was because knowing Mya, she had one. “Levi’s last day of school is June sixteenth, and we leave shortly after that for England.”
“Your family’s place in the Cotswolds is amazing. It’s straight out of Downton Abbey,” she said with a smile, “or Bridgerton.”
“Well, my parents are going to be with us the first week, so that should be fuuun,” Sydney responded sarcastically. “You’re welcome to join. The house has like a million rooms and bathrooms.”
“I would love to, but I promised Carter I’d help cover for you while you’re on vacation. And I’m happy to do so. I want you to enjoy yourself. When was the last time you got away and spent some quality family time?”
“Levi will miss Lucy, so we won’t stay there for more than two weeks, but thank God for Wi-Fi, so he can FaceTime her every day.” Young love. “So, are you only helping Falcon for the summer, or . . .?”
“Playing it by ear. Mason decided to stay back in Mexico and assist Martín with dismantling more of the Sinaloa cartel. But I think he’s decided he wants more than friendship.” Mya rolled her eyes. “He must think Oliver’s interested in me, so he’s being all weird.”
“I think Oliver is interested, but you two fight a hell of a lot, so I don’t know what to say.”
“True.” Mya shrugged. “Despite being, um, drugged,” she started in such a low voice Sydney had to read her lips over the drummer’s solo, “I remember our kiss.” She fanned her face. “And his massive cock. I mean, I didn’t see it with my own eyes, so the jury is still out, but I was sitting on his lap, and these hips don’t lie. I can say that, right? I haven’t started working with the team officially yet, so we’re not co-workers. But still, don’t tell Carter.”